SE23 Forum

I've not had time to ketchup with those rumours fish face. I doubt a church could afford it, unless they purchased it on HP. I'm sure they would relish the opportunity.

Tatare for now

A saucy church would surely draw the masses to SE23.

I roux the day that ever happens.

My two year old and I had a lovely lunch at The Capitol pub today. It is a treasure for Forest and I really hope it doesn't close. Hugh

Looks like it's going after all.

http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/Opera...Fc.twitter

(via https://twitter.com/selcamra/status/733305629171982336)

Since this is officially now the case, let's hope that whoever purchases it returns it back to its former glory as a cinema.

As long as a developer doesn't get hold of it and turn it into luxury flats, despite its listed status.

£85,000pa rent doesn't seem too bad. Any volunteers?

I think that this is not so clear cut for me. An arthouse-style cinema with small bar would be delightful (just call me Captain Gentrification), but I would not put up too much resistance to its conversion into flats. The appeal to businesses is limited due the building's construction as a cinema -- I have only once been into the 'Spoons and found it a bit dark and definitely lacking feng shui.

The worst option would be for it to stand empty and slowly degrade as a building: "I'm in Forest Hill, yeah, so go past the ugly looking rusty bridge, up the hill with all the cars and lorries queueing to get through the lights at the huge junction -- watch out for the pedestrians running across the road on the hill to avoid the infrequent crossing signal and for pedestrians who are spilling out from the tiny road island -- then look opposite the money shops, before Ferfect Chicken; yeah, outside the huge derelict building."

Sad to see it go. An independent cinema would be fantastic though.

I haven't been in The Capitol for a while. Is that spiderweb still there? Does it have listed status? Does the spider have squatter's rights?

As would a 'live music' venue - Forest Hill actually has the car parks to facilitate a cool venue, but there would need to be strong support from the council.

How about a community-run cinema? Just a thought - but could it run in a similar way to community-run pubs? Anyone got any knowledge or experience of this?
Found this link on the BFI website - though making the Capitol a cinema again might be a bit bigger than this job:
http://www.bfi.org.uk/neighbourhoodcinem...ity-cinema

And this:

http://www.independentcinemaoffice.org.u...t-a-cinema

Or am i getting a bit over-excited?

Great idea. Whirled Art run a very nice cinema in a railway arch next to Loughborough Junction, I wonder if they could be persuaded to take it on?

Someone call Picturehouse.

I'd love this to become a working cinema again and the Picturehouse people would be the obvious candidates to do it well, but I can't help but feel pessimistic about the chances of them wanting to open another cinema so close to the ED outpost.

I also remember (possibly from an old thread on here) that the terms of the listing are such that it would be difficult to use the building as a modern multi-screen cinema.

Does anyone know what that building would cost to run annually just in terms of rent, business rates and heating? It must be eye-watering!

It would be about £41k in business rates

Picturehouse would be ideal. The Ritzy and the Clapham Picturehouse are pretty close to each other, and often show different films to make sure they don't conflict. Could this model work for the Capitol?
I've also heard about the planning thing - something about the balcony being listed meaning it's basically impossible to convert the space into more than one screen? Tricky - but surely there's a way to make it work? Could it operate as a live music venue/cafe/cinema all in one?

enquiries@picturehouses.co.uk
020 7734 4342

My suggestion is that if you think Picturehouse should be interested then you should let them know. Perhaps you could write a sample email for others to send to them?

Don't forget to include the fact that there is a 24 hour car park across the road and a major station about 3 minutes walk away.